Grate



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A. RBARPER,

GRATE.

No. 558,067. Patented Apr;1'4, 1896.

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GRATB.

No. 558,067. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ALFRED EUGENE HARPER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,067, dated April 14, 1896. 'Application tied January 17,1895. serial No. 535,225. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

j Be it known that I, ALFRED EUGENE HAR- PER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification.

rIhe object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient furnacegrate; and the invention consists in the features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section taken longitudinally -through the center of the fire-box and furnace on line l of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section taken on line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the rear bridge for supporting one end of the grate-bars; Fig. 4, a plan view of Fig. 3, looking at it from the top; Fig. 5, a plan view of one of the grate-bars, looking at it from the top; Fig. 6, a side elevation of one of the grate-bars shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7, an enlarged transverse sectional elevation of several of the grate-bars, taken on line 7 of Fig. l; and Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the rear supportingbridge and one of the grate-bars, showing the relation and connection of the same.

My invention relates particularly to that class of grates in which the bars are rocked or oscillated for the purpose of` cleaning them of clinkers, ashes, dac., and it has particular reference to hollow grate-bars in which the admission of air to supply the requisite amount,

of oxygen to support combustion is facilitated. It is well known that in the use of grate-bars-either rigid, hollow, or rockingthe principal objection to such is that they are apt to become clogged at certain periods and obstruct or hinder the admission of the requisite quantity of air to support combustion. To overcome these objections and obtain a simple, economical, and eflicient grate that may be easily cleaned from the outside and at all times insure a sufficient supply of air is the principal object of my invention.

In describing and illustrating my improvement I will describe and illustrate it in connection with an ordinary furnace; but it will be understood that it may be applied to any of the large and numerous classes or styles the hollow bridge.

In constructing and combining my improvement with a furnace having a rear bridgewall A, fire-chamber A', front plate A2, and' side walls a a', I preferably secure and sustain at the rear of the fire-chamber an ashpit A3, a hollowsupporting-bridge B that has an air-induct b, preferably at its central portion, to which a pipe or duct of any kind may be secured for the purpose of admitting atmospheric air.

To form a grate proper, I provide a set of hollow grate-bars C, which are approximately cylindrical in cross-section, and which have their rear ends provided with openings or perforations c at the point where they rest upon grate-bar with a number of longitudinal slots or perforations c', arranged just beneath the proj ectingupper periph eral edges C. These slots are arranged alternately on each side, so as to practically form what might be termed 'the substantial equivalent of a continuous opening.

To further assist the passage ofthe air to the mass of burning fuel, I corrugate the upper surface of the grate-bar at its peripheral edges, the corrugations on one side alternating with those on the other, as at c2 and c3, so that as the air passes out of the slots at each side of the grate-bar it may enter between these corrugations and passing through the grooves or slots meet at the center.

The front edge of the lire-chamber and .ashpit is provided-with a T-shaped bridge D, that is provided with a plurality of curved recesses to receive the 'circular ends of the grate-bars, so that they may easily vibrate on the same. The rear hollow bridge is prefer- These openings are adapt- IOO ment of the grate-bars, but facilitate its vibration.

It will be noticed on looking at Figs. 2 and 7 that a transverse sectional view of the bars show outward peripheral projections C on the grate-bar surfaces, near which the slots or air-grooves are cut, and so arranged that the grate-bars may be vibrated or oscillated toward each other sufficient to perform the work of cleaning the grate of ashes, cinders, &c. To rock, oscillate, or vibrate these gratebars, each bar is provided with a lower proj ecting arm E, which in turn is provided with a wrist-pin e. Engaging with this series of wrist-pins and lying over the same is a parallel bar G, having a number of openings or slots g where it passes over the wrist-pin, and

4a projecting stud g', engaged by a leverearm I-I on a rock-shaft h. The rock-shaft is supported in suitable bearings atl the front and rear of the furnace and is provided with an actuating-lever arm H outside the front of the furnace, by which it may be rocked and the necessary rocking motion imparted to the grate-bars.

In use air enters the hollow supportingbridge through the opening b, and from that passes into several grate-bars, as above described, emerging from the grate-bars through the slotted openings near the upper surface and passing through the grooves in the corrugations of the surface of the grate-bars c nters into the mass of burning fuel.

When the fuel has been consumed to such an extent that it leaves an ash near the surface of the grate-bar, the stoker may grasp the actuating-lever, vibrate the same, thereby oscillating or rocking the grate-bars and discharge the ashes down between the gratebars into the ash-pit. As the channel for furnishing a supply of air is independent of the opening between the grate-bars, it will be seen that it minimizes the danger of clogging to prevent air from entering above the gratebar surface and contact the mass of burning fuel. v

The principal advantages of my improved grate are that I have provided a simple, economical, and efficient hollow grate-bar that facilitates the passage of air from the outside into contact with the burning fuel at a point near they top of the grate-bars, thereby minimizing the danger of clogging; and a further advantage is that an easy and efficient means for supporting and rocking the grate-bars is provided.

Vhile I have described my invention with more or less minutencss as regards details, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly any more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction, and arrangement, the omission of parts and substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.

I claim-- l. Agrate composed of a set of hollow gratebars connected together to permit passage of air into each bar from a common source of air supply, each bar being provided with a series of openings at either side near its top and with a series of external depressions or grooves extending crosswise in its upper surface, the openings and grooves communicating with each other and the openings and depressions of one bar being staggered with reference to the openings and depressions of the adjacent bar, substantially as described.

2. In a grate, the combination of a hollow supporting-bridge and a series of hollowr grate-bars communicating therewith, each bar being provided with a series of openings near its top and with a series of external de pressions or grooves extending crosswise in its upper surface, the openings and grooves communicating with each other to facilitate i the passage of air from the hollow bridge to the upper surface of the grate-bars,substan tially as described.

3. In a grate, the combination of a hollow 'supporting-bridge, a series of hollow gratebars supported thereon and communicating therewith, each bar being provided with a series of openings near its top and with a series of external depressions or grooves extending crosswise in its upper surface, the

`openings and grooves communicating with each other to facilitate the passage of air from the hollow bridge to the upper surface of the grate-bars, and means for vibrating or rocking the grate-bars to prevent choking or clogging of the grooves or depressions, substantially as described.

4. In a grate, the combination of a hollow bridge, a series of hollow grate-bars communicating therewith provided with corrugations at each of its peripheral edges alternately opposed to each other and a set of openings adjacent to such corrugations to permit the passage of air, and means for rocking the grate-bars, substantially as described.

5. In a grate, the combination of a hollow supporting-bridge, a series of substantially hollow cylindrical grate-bars supported on and communicating therewith provided with a corrugated upper surface having the corru- 'gations at each peripheral edge alternately opposed to each other and a set of longitudinal openings on each side of the peripheral edges of the grate-bars adjacent to the corrugations to permit the passage of air therethrough, and means for rocking or vibrating the grate-bar, substantially as described.

6. In a grate, the combination of a hollow supporting-bridge provided with an airinduct and arranged to form the bearing of one end of hollow vibratable grate-bars, a series of substantiallyT hollow cylindrical grate-bars having one end supported upon the hollow bridge and communicating therewith and having its upper surfaces corrugated at its peripheral edges and such corrugations op- IOO IIO

posite to each other and a set of longitudinal a rook-shaft oonneetedwith the parallel bar openings adjacent to such corrugated surfor operating the parts and vibrating the faces to permit passage of air from the bridge grate-bar, substantially as described.

through J[she grate-bars and to the upper sur- ALFRED EUGENE HARPER. 5 face of the grate, lower depending .arms on Vtnesses:

such grate-bars, a parallel operating-bar THOMAS F. SHERIDAN,

loosely'mounted on such depending arms, and EPHRAIM BANNING. 

